Police chief offers fireworks reminder

Lansing residents who buy their fireworks across the river or are thinking about celebrating the Fourth of July early should think again, Police Chief Steve Wayman said.

"Just because you can buy fireworks in Missouri may not mean they are legal to discharge in Kansas," Wayman said this week. "And just because you can buy fireworks this early doesn't mean you can discharge them this early."

Wayman is reminding Lansing residents of state laws and city ordinances regarding the use and sale of fireworks around Independence Day.

¢ The use of bottle rockets is illegal in Kansas.

¢ Class C fireworks can be discharged within the city limits between noon and 9 p.m. June 30-July 5. On July 4, fireworks can be discharged from noon to 11 p.m.

¢ Fireworks sales within city limits can take place from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. June 30-July 5.

¢ No privately discharged fireworks are allowed on any city-owned property, including parks, ballfields and parking lots, or on property owned by Lansing school district. Included in the ban are private fireworks displays preceding, during or after the city's annual fireworks show, which takes place from the grounds of Lansing Middle School.

Wayman said fireworks laws have been unchanged in recent years, and most years fireworks have not caused major problems in the city. He said he'd like to keep it that way this year.

Violators of fireworks laws, Wayman said, can face anything from a police warning to confiscation of remaining fireworks to a court summons.

"If you're shooting off bottle rockets at midnight, two or three in the morning, you're going to have to come to court," he said, "otherwise violations will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis."